Building and construction form a large part of the global economy and this industry showed a growth rate of 1.8% worldwide in 2001. Polymer materials have been steadily replacing traditional materials in this sector. Construction applications of plastics include pipes and guttering, window and door profiles, glazing, roofing, sealants and adhesives, cement, insulation, flooring and building panels. Civil engineering applications include geomembranes, road and sports surfaces, building reinforcement and bridge building.

This is a critical market for plastics. Around 60% of all PVC production is now used in this sector, applications include profiles for windows and doors, fascias, pipes and pipe fittings. Polystyrene is also used extensively, primarily in insulation applications. Around 1.85 million tons of high density polyethylene are used annually in construction, amounting to roughly 10% of total global consumption. Low density polyethylene, polyurethane and polypropylene are also used extensively.

In Western Europe alone in 1998 6.4 million tonnes of plastics were used in construction. The value of the plastics pipes market in the same year was estimated at 11 million euros and the growth rate is predicted to be 4% per annum in Europe. PVC accounts for 60% of the pipe market with polyolefins at 27% and growing. Alternative materials such as ABS and polyvinylidene fluoride are also being used, particularly in industrial sectors.

The growth rate for plastics consumption in building and construction in the US averaged 8% per annum from 1995 to 1998. Figures for the US housing industry showed an increase in the number of new housing starts in June 2001 at 1.658 million units, 6.3% higher than in June 2000. Other factors that influence plastics consumption are refurbishment and DIY projects.

Composite materials are being used for load bearing in construction applications. Foamed wood/plastic composites are a growing market in applications such as decking in North America. Demand is projected to be around 600,000 tons in 2005. There is potential for using recycled materials in composites. Plastic lumber decking is commonly made using recycled HDPE. Recycled plastics are also being used in a cement matrix. Polymeric fibres can also be used to reinforce cement and materials are being developed with ductility values equal to those of metals for applications such as runway surfaces, floors and pavements.

Environmental concerns are affecting the building industry in many ways. Recycling methods are being developed for plastic building components. Methods of using recycled material in construction are under trial. Housing itself is being redesigned to minimise usage of fossil fuels, which is leading to an increased requirement for insulation and the development of alternative means of heating such as solar panels and geothermal heating.

Polymers in Building and Construction examines the extensive markets for polymers by material and also by application, listing key players in these fields and new developments. A selection of companies operating in this sector are described in greater depth in Chapter 7.

8.1 Polymers in the Third Millennium 8.2 Technology Abbreviations and Acronyms

Keith Cousins graduated from Oxford University in Engineering Science and followed a graduate apprenticeship with one of the fore-runners of GEC with a career in export sales. This included export area management with Francis Shaw, a leading manufacturer of rubber and plastics extruders and mixing machinery.

Moving to market research at Buckingham-based Harkness Consultants after posts in Export Area and Market Planning Management at Coventry Climax, he has since November 1993, established a successful independent market research consultancy. Assignments have included a succession of published reports and privately communicated studies.